Inside the PD: Dennis Koutoufas resigns at Menchville

Dennis Koutoufas led Menchville to three postseasoon trips in four years.

Dennis Koutoufas, who has spent 29 seasons in the Peninsula District at three different schools, has resigned as head basketball coach at Menchville.

Koutoufas said he is leaving so he can spend more time with his grandchildren, triplets who were born last fall and live in South Carolina.

"It's time to do some stuff," Koutoufas said. "I don't want to be tied down in the summer. I want to be able to go with my wife to South Carolina.

"When you're a coach, you have to understand that basketball is a year-round job. It's already tough enough with the holidays. You can't go anywhere."

Asked if he might return to coaching down the line, Koutoufas, 63, left the door slightly ajar.

"You never say never," he said. You take it year by year ... but I'm not looking for another job."

Koutoufas went 437-227 in 29 seasons — the first 12 at Denbigh, the next 13 at Heritage, and the final four at Menchville. With the Monarchs, he had a record of 64-35 and made the postseason three times. He won back-to-back Peninsula District titles in 2011 and ’12.

Koutoufas won six PD tournament championships, second only to Hampton's Walter Brower with seven.

“He leaves big shoes to fill,” Menchville athletic director Greg Henderson said. “I never had to worry about anything with Coach K there. Everything about his program was a class act."

Koutoufas' coaching staff last season included two former Peninsula District head basketball coaches: Christopher Morgan (Gloucester) and Thomas Swords (Denbigh).

Koutoufas took a year off in 2009-10 after resigning at Heritage for what he called personal reasons. He then returned to take the job at Menchville.

The Monarchs expect to return starters Richard Washington, Dequon Lake and Elijah Murphy from last season's 17-7 team, which won the inaugural PenSouth Conference 10 tournament.

Menchville is one of two coaching openings in the district. Warwick is looking to replace Willie Gause, who resigned in March.